Organic solid laser pumped by an organic light-emitting diode.

We have proposed what we believe is a novel organic device pumped by an organic light-emitting diode to avoid a strong charge-induced absorption and nonradiative loss in an electrically pumped organic laser. An organic light-emitting diode was fabricated on the transparent anode substrate with a microcavity structure and driven under intense pulse voltages, and an organic film with a low threshold of amplified spontaneous emission was spin-coated on the opposite side of the substrate. Edge emission, spectral from the film, has been measured under the pulse voltages. The optical characteristics of organic films under an Nd3+: YAG laser have also been studied.

[A case of small cell carcinoma of the ureter with SIADH-like symptoms].

Primary small cell carcinoma of the ureter is very rare. We report a case associated with SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate secretion of ADH) -like symptoms. A 53-year-old man presented to our hospital with lower back and left lower quadrant abdominal pain. Computed tomography revealed left hydronephrosis, a peri-ureteral left lower quadrant mass, and retroperitoneal (RP) lymphadenopathy. Transduodendal biopsy of a RP lymph node revealed small cell carcinoma. He was referred to urology for further evaluation. Urography showed an obstructing mass invading the left ureter. Comprehensive metastatic evaluation revealed no other lesions. Thus, we diagnosed primary small cell carcinoma of the ureter with RP lymph node metastases. In addition, he developed SIADH-like symptoms, and we strongly suspected that it was due to ectopic production of ADH from this carcinoma. He was treated with systemic chemotherapy (methotrexate, epirubicin, and cisplatin). Following this, we performed radical nephroureterectomy with RP lymph node resection. However, he died of recurrent disease five months later.

[A case report of Fournier's gangrene in a diabetic patient induced by transrectal prostate biopsy (TRPB)].

A 70-year-old man with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, and an elevated serum prostatic specific antigen, underwent transrectal prostate biopsy. He received one dose of cefotium before, and three doses of cefotium (1.0 gram every 12 hours intravenously) after prostatic biopsy. He was doing well until postbiopsy day 1, when he developed high fever, dysuria and lower abdominal pain. His perineal area exhibited black-purpish discoloration. On postbiopsy day 3, laboratory data showed leukopenia and DIC. Operative findings during laparotomy on the same day, included malodorous cloudy fluid and tissue edema involving the perivesical space. Intraoperative tissue cultures as well as postoperative cultures of blood and drainage revealed Escherichia coli, serotype O-6. Despite maximal supportive therapy, the patient developed multiorgan failure and died on the tenth postbiopsy day. This patient's history and hospitalization course suggests that transrectal prostatic biopsy induced Fournier's gangrene.

Y-931, a novel atypical antipsychotic drug, is less sensitive to oxidative phenomena.

The oxidation behavior of Y-931, a potent atypical antipsychotic drug, was compared with that of clozapine and olanzapine. In two enzymatic systems (horseradish peroxidase (HRP)/glutathione (GSH) and HRP/H(2)O(2)/GSH) which generate thiyl radicals, clozapine markedly strengthened the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal for the radical. Olanzapine, Y-931 and the major metabolites (compounds 1-3) had no or minimal effect on the intensity of this signal. In addition, the redox potential values for the three derivatives were in accord with the EPR spin trapping results. In toxicological experiments in human leukocytes, a concentration-dependent toxicity was observed when neutrophils were incubated with clozapine (1-10 micromol/l) and H(2)O(2) (1 mmol/l). However, Y-931 and olanzapine did not show remarkable toxicity under the conditions.